Horizons (Epcot)
| Horizons | |
|---|---|
Horizon's exterior, pictured in 1998 | |
| Epcot | |
| Coordinates | 28°22′26″N 81°32′48″W / 28.37389°N 81.54667°W |
| Status | Removed |
| Cost | USD $60 million |
| Opening date | October 1, 1983 (Original) December 24, 1995 (Reopening) |
| Closing date | December 25, 1994 (Original) January 9, 1999 (Reopening) |
| Replaced by | Mission: SPACE (World Discovery) |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Dark ride |
| Designer | George McGinnis Walt Disney Imagineering |
| Theme | Future life |
| Music | "New Horizons" by George Wilkins |
| Length | 1,346 ft (410 m) |
| Speed | 1.04 mph (1.67 km/h) |
| Site area | 136,835 sq ft (12,712.4 m2) |
| Vehicle type | Omnimover |
| Vehicles | 175 |
| Riders per vehicle | 3–4 |
| Duration | 14:45 |
| Hosts | Grandfather (Bob Holt) Grandmother (Dena Dietrich) |
| Sponsor | General Electric (1983–1993) None (1993–1999) |
Must transfer from wheelchair | |
.jpg){kind=link}
Horizons was a suspended omnimover dark ride attraction at Epcot (then known as EPCOT Center), a theme park at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida. Located on the eastern side of the Future World (now World Discovery) section of Epcot. The attraction depicted scenes from the then yet to come 21st century showing the possible future of life on land, under the sea, and in outer space. It is believed to be the sequel to Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress, an attraction in Tomorrowland at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Horizons was the only attraction in Future World to showcase all of Epcot's "Future World" elements: communication, energy, transportation, anatomy, along with humankind's relationship with the sea and the land.
The attraction officially opened on October 1, 1983, as part of Phase II of Epcot. Horizons originally closed in December 25, 1994, a little more than a year after General Electric had ended its sponsorship of the attraction. Horizons re-opened on December 24, 1995 due to the closure of two other attractions that were down for refurbishment in Future World, Universe of Energy and World of Motion. The attraction permanently closed on January 9, 1999, after which the attraction was dismantled and its structure demolished to make room for Mission: Space, a motion simulator thrill ride that opened on October 9, 2003.
The attraction, although extinct, still retains a sizable cult following, especially among Disney park aficionados.